Act 1

Chapter 8

"It Takes Getting Used To"

~::::~

The sound of polished boots hitting the metal floors of the empty corridor echoed down the hall as a lone simian marched in a perfect stride with his hands clasped behind his back. Andrew Oikonny had decided to take up his claim as his uncle's one true heir after being unceremoniously dumped from Star Wolf along with Pigma after the Lylat Wars. To Andrew, this was a blessing in disguise, as he rallied up remnants of Andross's army to form a new empire, beginning with claiming the planet of Fortuna. His takeover almost succeeded had the damned Star Fox not intervened. Thanks to the new blue vixen added to their team, her telepathy allowed her to forecast his many traps laid down, bypassing them with ease.

Eventually, he got in the fray himself, piloting his mech in the shape of his image. He was no match for the Star Fox team, but before they could bring him in, a winged creature attacked his ship and sent him spiraling to the mossy floor, before exploding in a ball of flame. By some miracle, he survived at the cost of his left arm and leg, now replaced with robotic synthetics. He gathered the remnants of the remnants and beat a hasty retreat to Venom, but not before spinning his tale about how he single-handedly defeated the creature while Star Fox ran away like the cowards they were. He bid his time, waiting for the Aparoid invasion to finish, before rebuilding his army in secret, not wanting to let anyone know that he was still alive. He felt that the time was right, Star Fox was lazy and unprepared. Hopefully, a blitzkrieg would bring his uncle's murderers to justice. He opened the door to the command deck of his army's flagship dreadnought, Andross's Requiem, and was met with a hail of salutes. The feeling of getting the respect he always deserved brought him joy every time, a far cry from the hazing of Star Wolf.

"At ease, soldiers," He ordered in his shrill voice. All hands came down at once before each member of the deck went back to their usual system checks and ship maintenance. Andrew walked towards the far end of the deck, where a brown canine in a green military uniform stood staring into the deep reaches of space, hands crossed over his chest and flanked by two canines holding automatic rifles. The canine didn't bother to turn around as the simian stood tall next to him, the two remaining silent for a minute as the distant stars shone a light through the glass that separated them from the cold reaches of space.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" The canine asked, gazing at each star.

"It should all be my uncle's," Andrew complained, not removing his hands from his back.

The canine huffed a small chuckle, before placing a paw on the glass. "Well, if he wasn't so full of himself, he would," The canine replied, causing a scowl to form on Andrew's face.

"Watch your tongue, General. I will not tolerate slander of my Uncle," He snarled.

The canine chuckled, and let out a sigh. "You Oikonnys don't know about this little thing called tenacity. Sure, Andross was the smartest guy in any room, but when some cur who is too stubborn to kick the bucket shows up, you're already dead. You make sure all the variables are dealt with. No surprises. He had almost everything figured out but failed to take out Star Fox before the battle of Corneria. That was the nail in his coffin. It will be your nail as well." Andrew shot the canine a quizzical look.

"You mean take out Star Fox before I finish what my uncle started?" He asked. The canine nodded.

"Matter of fact, take care of all the mercs you have worked with in the past, trust me. It's what I did. Riley's Rangers, Talon Company, Titainian Skulls." The canine paused before a smile crept on his muzzle. "Star Wolf."

Andrew froze before a smile crossed his lips. "Ah, I see you dealt with them, then?"

"Yes, Emperor. I took Jacques and Ke'ai with me and burned them in a bar on Papetoon. All that's left is Star Fox. While the masses mourn the loss of their 'saviors', you swoop in and take what's yours."

Andrew mulled over what the canine said. He killed Wolf, Leon, and that new guy, Panther. He never had any feelings for the latter but felt mixed regarding the first two. Wolf was his boss, and Leon was a trusty assassin. True loyalty to his employer. And Wolf was one of the bravest guys he'd ever met. Resourceful and intelligent, he was a true leader. The feeling of camaraderie went as quickly as it came when Andrew remembered that they would turn on him the second someone offered a bigger paycheck, as well as the hazing. "A shame. They were truly skilled."

"Yeah, they would have been the first to stab you in the back the second a bigger paycheck rears its head," the dog replied. Andrew cocked his head as he looked the canine over.

"And how do I know you won't do the same thing, General Shears? That you will not try my crown on for size?"

The canine laughed as he motioned to his guards to move out. "As long as you fulfill your promises, I've got no problem serving under the Oikonny Empire." With that, Shears began to walk away, leaving one very confidant Andrew at the helm.

Shears suddenly turned on his heels and faced Andrew once more, pulling out a small piece of paper from his jacket pocket. "Oh, and I figured you should know this. There's a new element in play for Star Fox. We managed to get this image out from Wolf's ship before we burned it," he said, handing a physical photo over to Andrew. The images were of a young alien, who seemed like a shaven ape driving a red sports car. "From the reports we we able to gather in the area, he seems to excel in driving. He managed to evade local gangsters without firing a single shot." Shears paused for a second, before tipping his hat above his eyes and locking pupils with the emperor. "One last thing. A few of my spies are telling me that Peppy Hare is awaiting to be promoted from Star Fox to Pepper's right-hand man. There will be a big ceremony, so I felt we could kill two birds with one stone. Those loyal to me are ready and awaiting your command, Emperor. That deer you have been in contact with has given us all we need," Shears said with a smirk, prompting a dark chuckle from Andrew.

"Very good, General."

As Shears walked away, Andrew looked down at a specific photo of TJ sitting in his car, his eyes fixed directly on the ape. A twisted grin worked its way across Andrew's lips, looking over the street racer with wicked intent. "My oh my, what secrets do you and your home hold, child?" He asked for the photo before stuffing it in his pocket and looking out over the vast reaches of space.

~::::~

"You need to stay still, Wolf," Fay ordered in her bubbly tone. Wolf let out a huff as the spaniel unwrapped his bloody bandage, revealing the laser burn and subsequent stitches. The air felt like he was being shot again, as he gritted his teeth and let a low growl slip. A week on the Great Fox was enough to drive Wolf mad, but at least he could walk around now.

"So, where did you grow up?" Fay asked, trying to distract the lupine as she dabbed a cotton ball of rubbing alcohol on his head.

"Don't remember," Wolf snappily replied.

"Oh, come on. Everyone remembers their roots!" Fay challenged as she rubbed blaster ointment on the lupine's head.

Wolf let out a sigh as he locked eyes with the spaniel, burning a hole in her with his eye. "I know what you're doing, pup. I'm a grown man, I can take a little bit of pain now and then. Just finish up here so that I can get back to flying," he said before slumping over.

"Actually, I'm all done!" Fay happily replied. Wolf felt around his head, the feeling of a fresh roll of gauze gracing his fingertips.

"Huh. You work quick, Spaniel," He replied with no emotion. Fay smiled at the compliment. Wolf stood up from his chair and grabbed his new black leather jacket hanging on the door. Pulling it over his gray tank top, he popped the collar and reached into his jacket pocket for his cigarettes. His eye went wide as he was only grabbing air. Checking his other pocket, the smokes weren't there either. He felt his paws around his pants pockets and came up empty once more. Looking back at Fay, she poorly feigned ignorance as Wolf deeply sighed before towering over the tiny spaniel. "Fay. Where are my smokes?"

Fay put on a quizzical pout, seemingly not at all challenged by the larger lupine. "Your 'smokes'? I'm sorry, Wolf, but I haven't the slightest idea what you're talking about," Fay poorly defended.

Wolf rolled his one eye as he balled his paws into fists. "My Fortunian cigarettes, Fay. I had 'em earlier before I walked in here, now where are they?" He demanded with a growl. Fay looked puzzled for a moment before she looked like she had an epiphany.

"Oh, those! Yeah, I flushed them out the airlock," she replied with a wide smile. Wolf took a deep breath, before heavily sighing.

"You know, most people who defy Wolf O'Donnell usually end up dead after a few days." His threat could not have been less effective as Fay got up on her tip-toes just to somewhat match the height of Wolf.

"Well, then I must have a death wish. Hey, those were bad for you. I've seen your hacking fits, and anyone half a brain would understand that that's when you call it quits. It's for your own good." She defended with an educated grin.

"Who are you to tell me what's good and bad for my health?" Wolf snapped.

Fay pointed towards the medical degree hanging above the door frame. "That."

Wolf held his threatening expression before it slowly shifted to a smile. "Well Fay, you've got some balls. I admire that. Just don't let it happen again, got it?"

"As long as I don't see you with those deathsticks anymore, I won't touch any of your things. Pinky promise."

"Great, the pup's got a crew of smart-asses," he muttered.

Wolf stuffed his hands into his jacket pockets and began wandering the halls of the Great Fox aimlessly. Looking up at one of the security cameras in the hallway, Wolf snarled. He knew his every move was being traced. Pulling one hand out, Wolf flicked his middle finger up as he continued his stroll. The sounds of moaning soon perked his ears up, coming from a few meters down the hall. Realizing that the sound was coming from an open door, Wolf slowly approached the door frame before he peaked his head around the corner. A smile tugged at his lips as he found the source of the noise.

Panther was lying down on the couch of the rec room with a bag of ice on his chest, mask-less for the first time since Wolf last saw him yesterday. He was dressed in a white t-shirt with loose-fitting sweatpants and red sneakers. Noticing his boss at the door, Panther tried to make himself look presentable, moving the ice pack off his chest and down to his side while he locked his eyes on the TV. Wolf stood above his wingman with a slightly amused grin as Panther tried to hide his pain. "What's got ya hurtin', Panther? Krystal finally put the boots to ya?" Wolf asked, trying to gain his attention.

"No, not Krystal," Panther hesitantly replied. Wolf let a grin break out on his muzzle as he knelt down next to his fallen comrade.

"Hey, don't worry 'bout it. I promise to not tell anyone at Sargasso that Slippy beat your ass like a drum."

Panther shot up to his feet immediately with fire in his eyes. "You think you are funny, hm? That little greased toad would not last five seconds against me, I would put him in the dirt with one arm tied behind my back."

A cough from the hallway caused Wolf and Panther to look towards the doorway. Slippy appeared in the entrance holding a wrench and wearing a pout. The feline cleared his throat as embarrassment started to build up. "Well, Panther? You'd put him in the dirt?" Wolf egged on, hands in his pockets with a smile on his muzzle.

Panther's tail fell flat as he shifted his gaze to the ground. "Stop, boss."

"Jerks…" Slippy muttered before walking away in a huff.

"Anyway, what's with all the ice and moanin'?" Wolf asked, letting Panther recover from his embarrassment.

"Well, I've been trying to court...Miyu."

Wolf snorted. "What, Krystal doesn't catch your eye anymore?"

Panther sighed. "She does, but Miyu...by the Gods, she is perfect. In every way. Fiery, passionate, and beautiful. I would give anything to be her mate."

"Still doesn't explain the ice," Wolf reminded.

Panther cracked his neck and emitted an audible yowl before rubbing the injured vertebrae. "Boss, what martial arts are you trained in?"

Wolf raised an eyebrow at the peculiar question. "Uh, well, I can kickbox and I used to be a bit of a wrestler, why?"

Panther simply chuckled, slightly frustrating the lupine. "That would do nothing to Miyu. I've never gone up against someone who could resist my attacks, let alone counter with more powerful strikes. I was hopelessly outmatched."

"Is that a fact?"

Panther nodded.

"And I'm assumin' that's what she did to you?"

Panther hung his head low again, like he had just been emasculated. "I tried to find common ground with her and found her beating a bag like it insulted her entire family tree, so I explained my boxing and fencing backgrounds to her. She took that as a challenge and began to beat me senselessly. I can still feel the paw prints on my rear. When I was lying on the mat, she gave me a wink. I do not believe I have ever been in love like this before." The jungle cat finished with a loving grin plastered on his lips.

Wolf smiled as he playfully punched the shoulder of the feline. "Panther, buddy, you wanna go think those thoughts in private?"

Panther scoffed as he elegantly straightened his back which only felines could pull off. "I am a gentleman, Boss. It would take a lot for me to stoop to such a low and obscene level." Wolf whistled as he walked away from Panther, fiddling with his pockets.

"Well, I'll leave you and those dirty, dirty thoughts of yours alone. The pup wants to talk to me anyway."

Panther cocked his head to the side, a quizzical expression on his lips. "Did he say what it was he wanted to talk to you about?"

Wolf shook his head with a grunt as he stood in the doorway. "No, but bein' trapped on Corneria like this has me antsy. Keep your eyes open."

~::::~

The walk to the bridge was a fast one, Wolf refusing to stop for anything. Thoughts ran in and out of his mind about what Fox would say to him, with Wolf preparing for each potential outcome. After an extra minute of speedwalking, Wolf arrived at the door to the bridge, huffing in annoyance when he tried to scan his palm only for it to turn a blazing red in return. "Fox!" Wolf shouted, banging on the steel door with his fist. "Open the door!"

Wolf's demand was met with an instant answer, the door opening to reveal Fox and Peppy sitting in their respective chairs. Wolf sneered, walking into the room with his hands in his pockets as he made a beeline for the couch. "Pup. Pep."

"Wolfgang," Peppy replied, leaning forward in his chair as Wolf fell back onto the couch. "It's been a while, son. You doin' alright here?"

Wolf scratched his chin, a smile crossing his lips as he shook his head. "Well, it don't got Sargasso's booze and broads, but it'll do for now, old man."

The smile grew even wider as Peppy scowled in his direction, like a father disapproving of their delinquent son's actions. Before Peppy had a chance to scold Wolf, Fox jumped in. "All in all, we're glad you're still here."

"Not like I've had much of a choice. You've had us on lockdown for a week now, I'm startin' to get a little stir-crazy here. On top of that, my men and I want answers. As much as I don't wanna take this for granted, why aren't we in a Macbeth chain gang by now?"

"Because I'm tired of this, Wolf."

Wolf's brow raised far enough to fall off his head, the lupine leaning forward on the old couch as he processed Fox's words. "Tired of what?"

Fox sighed, putting leaning his chin on his fist. "This. The back and forth, the constant dogfights, the bullshit. This isn't about the Lylat Wars, this isn't about the Aparoids, this isn't even…" Fox paused, swallowing as he took a deep breath. "This isn't even about my father. This is about us, burying the hatchet like men, once and for all."

"Bury the hatchet?" Wolf wore a look of pure amusement, a smile threatening to overtake his face before it morphed into one of rage. "Are you kidding me? You think you can just call it quits and ask me to go away, pup? Well tough shit, cause I still got a lot of fight left in me. I've told you a million times, and apparently, you need me to tell you again. This only ends when you kill me, or I kill you."

"Why?" The look of boredom and dissolution on Fox's face threw Wolf for a loop. "I'm serious. Why?"

"Because!" Wolf barked, slowly trying to find the words as Fox simply stared at him. "Because we… we're… we have to…"

"Have to what?" Wolf could only sputter in unfounded rage as Fox continued to sit there, a quizzical look plastered on his face. "Wolf," Fox began, standing up from his seat. "You and I are some of the best pilots in Lylat. We're practically evenly matched. Why the pirate business? Why not security, or protection?"

"Cause you and I know that that don't pay shit, pup."

"So then how come I'm not dead broke?"

"I was the head to hang on your wall, along with Andross, that giant lizard on Sauria, and the Aparoid Queen."

"Last I checked, if it wasn't for you, we would have died on the Aparoid home world."

"And which tabloid ran with that article? Last I checked, the headlines were 'Star Fox saves the universe- again.' Nothin' about me or my team."

"Alright boys," Peppy interjected, standing up from his seat and walking between the two captains. "Enough's enough. Fox, get to the point."

Fox sighed as he tapped his fingers on his chair. "Look, Wolf. After the Aparoid attack on Corneria City, you had me thinking. You saved my life multiple times that day, and the lives of my teammates."

Wolf scoffed, shaking his head as he crossed his legs. "That was circumstantial, pup. If I didn't show up and Lylat lost their favorite boy scout, I wouldn't be far down the extermination list. Truth be told, I didn't give a shit if you lived or died that day."

"Then why not kill me and take my spot? Why join us in the Orbital Gate assault? Why risk your life on the Homeworld?"

"Because-"

"Because deep down, you knew it was the right thing to do."

Wolf's mouth sealed shut, his eye narrowing at Fox as the vulpine let a slight smile pass his lips. "Come on, Wolf. Didn't it feel good? To have the survivors in Corneria City thanking you as you flew by? To save the entire Lylat system? To be a hero? The hero you were meant to be?"

Wolf refused to look at Fox, instead casting his glare at Peppy. "Well, I guess the CDF just leaves 'heroes' like that behind, right old man?"

"That wasn't my fault, son. You can't blame any of us for that."

In a flash of anger, Wolf shot to his feet and flipped his eyepatch up, showing the scarred tissue that lay underneath. An empty eye socket glared back at the rabbit, a few loose and snipped electronic wires adding to the gore. "So this was not your fault? The son of a bitch scooped my eye out with a spoon, old man! A spoon! You all left me there! I had to escape on my own! No one even came lookin' for me!"

"We all wanted to!" Peppy fired back with fire in his eyes, his fists clenched at his side as he took a deep breath. "Me, Jim, Hazamada, Eric, even Beltino wanted to hop in a craft and join the search. But we couldn't. We were on a tight leash after what went down." A melancholic visage overcame his rage, the hare sighing as he slouched over with his hands in his pockets. "No one told us what happened after that. It was wrapped up in a mountain of red tape and bureaucracy. Corneria didn't exactly wanna rescue a merc on an unsanctioned op on an ally planet."

Wolf's rage slowly subsided, the lupine flipping his eyepatch back down as he slowly returned to his seat. Words failed to find him as he instead moved his eye over to Fox. "So, what? You want us to help you find who tried to put us down?"

Fox nodded. "Yes. And as a show of good faith, I've talked to an old friend of mine. She'll be able to get you guys set up with new Wolfens, no questions asked." Fox paused, the glare on his face becoming deadly as he leaned forward in his command chair. "This is costing me a lot, Wolf. Even with the discount I was able to swing, this is sucking up all the money from our last few jobs. I need your word that you will see this through with me. With us. Because if you take off as soon as we get your wings back, I'll hunt you down to the edges of Lylat and beyond myself. Am I clear?"

Wolf chewed on the thought for a few minutes, throwing his head back as his eye darted across the room. After a tense handful of seconds, Wolf huffed. "Yeah, and I'm sure the CDF won't have a problem with us being buddy-buddy now, huh? Or is a 'friendly-fire' incident gonna make one trigger-happy cadet rich?"

"That's why I'm taking you guys to speak with General Pepper tomorrow," Fox began, his glare slowly fading away. "He still owes us a few favors for the Aparoids, after all. I'm sure he can drop your bounties if I vouch for you."

A toothy grin passed Wolf's lips, the lupine shaking his head as he closed his eye. "You know this ain't gonna work, right pup?"

Fox wore a smile to rival Wolf's, leaning back in his chair as he did so. "I trust my instincts."

Wolf's smile slowly faded from his lips, unable to get another word in as Fox stared him down, his tail gently swaying behind him. A snarl slowly replaced Wolf's smile, before he huffed as stood up. With his hands in his jacket pockets, Wolf made a beeline for the exit.

"Wolf." Peppy's voice caused Wolf to pause in place, his back still turned towards the hare. "For what it's worth, I'm glad you're back with us. From the bottom of my heart, I hope it stays that way."

As still as a statue, Wolf did nothing for a few seconds. It was as if his boots had magnetized him to the floor. The lupine felt a small lump materialize in his throat before he forced it back down, clenching his fists in the process. Without saying another word, he finally left the bridge, leaving Peppy and Fox alone. Waiting a few extra seconds, Peppy turned towards Fox and nodded. "Ready to call the old dog and let him know to expect company?"

Fox smiled. "Let's rock and roll."

~::::~

The sounds of wrenching filled the hanger, mostly coming from the red Viper. Underneath the vehicle, TJ grunted from exertion. "C'mon, girl… just a bit more… there." Rolling out from underneath the Viper on a creeper, TJ squinted as he was hit with a flashbang of light from the hanger lights. As he sat up from the creeper, he wiped the sweat from his brow and rubbed the excess grease on his pants. Turning to his right, TJ's eyes lit up at the sight of Corneria City at night. For the past week, he had wanted to drive out to the city limits, waiting to see what was there. He had heard stories from everyone, and the simulators had shown him a glimpse of the light-filled city. Looking back down at the Viper, TJ felt an urge to jump in and tear off into the night. He had been cooped up in the Great Fox for too long, he needed to get back out there.

A hiss snapped through the air, TJ turning to see that Slippy had entered the hangar. "Yo! Where've you been?!"

The smile on TJ's face slowly felt awkward as Slippy lacked the excited smile that he usually wore. He did have the wrench he needed, thankfully. As he approached TJ, the toad sighed. "It's nothing. Just Wolf and his guys being jerks again."

"Yeah, Fox told me to keep my distance. They're really that bad?"

Slippy sighed again. "It's complicated. They've been at our throats for a decade. I don't know what Fox is thinking, but he has to have a good reason. Maybe he sees something that I don't." Slippy sighed again before a smile slowly appeared on his lips. "So, it's still running perfectly?"

Almost instantly, the mood was back up again as TJ took the wrench from Slippy's palm and scooted back under the car. "Yep! Just gotta tighten the suspension a bit, felt a bit off last week." A bolt turning quickly replaced TJ's speech, his legs the only part of him visible. For a few seconds, the only noise between the two was the sound of TJ's wrench before he popped back out from under the car. "There we go, she's golden!" With a quick grunt, TJ got off the creeper and up to his feet, beaming with pride at the finished car. The smile quickly turned towards Slippy, TJ raising a curious brow as he put his arms behind his head. "Y'know, I was wonderin'… Since you guys got all kinds of crazy tech, I had a few ideas…"

Slippy's eyes lit up, sparkling in the hanger light as he looked up at the street racer with a mischievous grin. "Oh? What's on your mind?"

TJ sucked in a gallon of air through his teeth, tapping the wrench he held against his upper back. "This might sound crazy, but you got anythin' that could change the paint of the car on the fly? Like, it's red one second then green the next?"

Slippy thought for a second before nodding with enthusiasm. "Oh, you mean chameleon paint! Yeah, I could get some of that! It's a bit expensive, but a single coat on the car shouldn't hurt too much!" Before TJ could celebrate, Slippy raised his brow. "I just gotta ask, any reason why you need it?"

TJ nodded in response. "Trust me, there's a ton of cops I could've shaken way sooner if I could swap paint like that. Someone lookin' for a red car ain't gonna look twice at a blue car s'all I'm sayin'." As if TJ suddenly had an epiphany, he snapped his fingers before pointing at Slippy. "Speakin' of that! Any chance you could work some active aero? Like, raisin' and lowerin' the spoiler here to increase her top end an' change the look a bit?"

"Absolutely! That'll be a piece of cake!"

Slippy's affirmation put TJ in high spirits, the street racer pumping his fist before slapping Slippy on the back. "That's what I'm talkin' 'bout! You're a freakin' wizard, yo! Man, you'd put Kylie to shame!"

"Who's that?"

The question deflated the mood like a pin going through a balloon, TJ's smile falling from his face instantly. "Oh, uh, she's… was the mechanic of my crew. She helped me tune up my Skyline, and uh, yeah…" A sour look popped up on TJ's face, the street racer chewing on his tongue for a second before he swallowed it back down. Forcing a smile onto his face, TJ patted the hood of the Viper with a metallic slap. "Yeah, thanks though! How soon can you fit all that?"

Slippy snapped back to reality, TJ's sudden mood shifts prompting him to run the quick math in his head. "Well, the aero I can do in-house, but the paint is special order. We'll have to pick some up. Fortunately for you, we'll be headed to where we can pick some up tomorrow."

The smile was fully back on TJ's face as he pumped his fist. "Awesome! Been itchin' to get out, see what the hell I'm missin' out on here."

"As long as you're staying under the speed limit," Slippy replied with a nervous chuckle. Before TJ could respond, Slippy's eyes lit up as he let a smile cross his face. "Right, I almost forgot! I'm taking the disk to my dad tomorrow as well!"

TJ cocked his head to the side instantly, Slippy gaining his undivided attention as TJ locked his eyes on him. "Why? Does he know how to fix it?"

A sheepish grin appeared on Slippy's face as he rotated his wrist. "Eh… not exactly. He said he could try to analyze the disk and figure out how it worked, but he can't make any promises." A sigh escaped TJ's lips as he tapped his pants, craning his neck to the ceiling. Before the weight of the words could sting him any further, Slippy gently nudged him with his elbow. "But hey, don't worry! This isn't the first time we've had to make something out of nothing! It's just gonna take a bit longer is all!"

TJ remained silent before he returned a short nod. Once more, TJ chewed on his tongue before he cast his eyes over to his phone. The realization of how late it truly was for him made TJ jump as he slid the device into his pocket. "Yeah, well I'm gonna catch up on some sleep then. See you tomorrow, Slip." Without saying another word, TJ walked out of the hangar, hands in his pockets and his head held low. Slippy tried to keep the smile on his face, but words failed him as TJ disappeared from sight.

~::::~

"Oh, just wanted to let you know I'm gonna pay a visit to Taryn real quick."

Miyu's sudden question caught Fox off-guard as he turned from reading the morning news on his phone. The wait for one of his old friends in the hanger bay of the Great Fox was giving him plenty of anxiety. He had been waiting for alarms to ring out any second, alerting the base that Star Wolf was on the premises. That was a headache that was not needed. Miyu's sudden question was enough to distract him as he cocked his head to the side. "What? Why?"

Miyu shuffled the motorcycle helmet under her arm as she stared out across the tarmac. "He's fighting in Lethal Lockdown this year. Figured I could get some quick sparring in with him while I wait for you guys to finish up with Pepper and Fara. S'not like you need me there, anyway."

After a few seconds, Fox narrowed his eyes. "Is this going to be like last time when you two almost tore each other apart?"

"We'll be on our best behavior, I promise." The manic grin on Miyu's muzzle told a different story, but it was too late at this point. Fox knew there was no changing her mind as he shrugged.

"Alright, have fun. And if he shows you anything new, share it with the rest of us."

Miyu feigned a gasp, holding her hand to her heart as she did so. "And divulge dojang secrets for free? For shame, Foxie! For shame!"

Fox rolled his eyes, putting his phone away and crossing his arms as he shrugged his shoulders again. "Was worth a shot. I guess I'll find out soon enough, huh?"

Moving her hand from her heart, Miyu tapped the tip of Fox's black button nose with her index finger. "That you will." With that, Miyu walked off the Great Fox and into the nearby parking lot. Fox's ears perked up as the sound of a motorcycle engine filled the air before he noticed Miyu riding past the barrier gate and onto the nearby highway.

Fox took a deep breath, slowly tapping his foot on the hanger's floor. The sound of a whistle broke him out from his tapping, the vulpine turning around to notice TJ walking towards him with his hands shoved in his pockets. The street racer walked up to Fox, stopping next to him as he looked out over the city. "So, why'd you want me down here? Slippy said he didn't need me to pick him up for at least the next hour or so…"

"We'll be headed to where Slippy is," Fox stated as he straightened his jacket. "But I want you to meet with General Pepper first."

TJ tried to hold back a snort as he looked out over the daytime view of Corneria City. "Seriously? The dude's name is actually Pepper?"

"TJ…" Fox warned. The street racer defensively put his hands up with a smile, causing Fox to sigh as he shook his head. "While he's clearing the bounties of Star Wolf, he made it clear that he also wanted to speak with you. I would try to make a good first impression, trust me."

"Well, now you got me feelin' a bit under-dressed, dude. If he's so important, shouldn't I be in a suit or somethin'?"

Fox let a smile crack from his lips, bouncing his head around. "Normally, that would be a smart idea. But there aren't many suits that don't come with tail-holes, and we don't have time to get you fitted for one. Trust me, you won't look out of place when my ride gets here."

TJ's confusion mixed with amusement as he took his hands out of his pockets and crossed his arms. "Really? Who's your ride?"

"Bill Grey," Fox began. "He and I go way back, I think you'll like him."

TJ raised a brow, looking over to Fox with a bewildered glare. "What makes you say that?"

Fox smirked. "Call it a hunch."

As soon as the words passed Fox's lips, a dark green SUV slowly turned into the parking lot of the base. From the distance he was at, Fox could see a spec slightly move towards the SUV before the barrier gate raised, allowing it entry. Slowly but surely, the SUV approached the Great Fox, gently climbing the off-ramp and parking right next to Fox and TJ.

There was a slight pause before the door to the SUV creaked open, revealing a grey-furred canine with a wide smile. He wore a black hoodie, tan cargo shorts, and yellow flip-flops that slapped against his paws as he stepped out of the vehicle. Fox broke from his statue-like pose and approached the canine, opening his arms to their full span. "Bill! Good to see you!" Fox suddenly wrapped him up in a deep hug, with Bill reciprocating the gesture as he chuckled.

"Good to see you too, Fox! Been way too long, bro!" After a few more seconds, the two friends broke free of the hug, sizing each other up and down.

Before Fox or Bill could get another word out, TJ groaned before covering his nose. "Wuff, dude, is that weed? It's burnin' my eyes…"

Fox paused, sniffing the air as the scent of old skunk spray and cheap cologne made him chuckle. "Still smoking in your car, Bill?"

Bill nodded. "You know Sheila, she won't let me smoke in the apartment. So I gotta make do with what I got." A sly grin crossed Bill's lips as he reached into one of the door compartments. Armed with the scent of a tropical beach and flowers, Bill got to work spraying every surface of the SUV, masking the scent of marijuana for the time being.

With the scent covered up, Bill turned to TJ, holding his free hand out for a shake. TJ slowly accepted the gesture, warily shaking the canine's hand. "So, you're TJ? Fox told me quite a bit about you."

TJ's eyes lit up for a second as he pulled away from the shake. "What'd he say?"

"That you're pretty damn good behind the wheel. That I should watch out for you myself and hire you as a driver from time to time. But something tells me that you don't exactly vibe with driving dignitaries around all day?"

TJ scoffed. "Yeah, that ain't exactly somethin' I'd wanna be doin'."

Bill nodded, a look of understanding plastered on his face mixed with his smile. "Well, the pay is pretty good for you mercenary types. Not too bad me, but it's not like top brass gives me much of a choice sometimes."

TJ quickly became confused, looking at Bill from head to toe. "You're military? I thought you were a merc too?"

"I'll admit, I don't look like Commander William Grey at the moment," Bill began. "But I was always more one for structure anyway. If you ever need help from Husky or Bulldog squad, you'll see me leading the pack." As soon as Bill finished boasting, his eyes ran over to the Viper. With a whistle, Bill shoved his hands in his pockets as he strolled towards the car. "Damn, kid! You must be loaded to drive this thing!"

A nervous chuckle came from TJ, the driver scratching the back of his neck as he walked towards his car. "Yeah, about that… s'not exactly mine…"

Before Bill could become too confused, Fox jumped in. "He stole the car, Bill. It's why he's here in the first place."

Bill's eyes went wide for a second before he began laughing. "Ah! Okay, that makes more sense! Shoulda' figured you were a bit of a hooligan. Don't worry, I won't judge you. Before Falco came along, I was the guy Fox had to bail out of trouble around the clock."

"The guy Fox still has to bail out of trouble, just less frequently," Fox added with a smirk, nudging Bill's shoulder. Like a child, Bill stuck his tongue out before laughing some more.

The sounds of multiple footsteps on the hanger deck alerted the group to the arrival of Star Wolf. Fox had to buy the trio new sets of clothes while they were interred on the Great Fox, something that his wallet hated. Nevertheless, it was preferable over clothes with dried blood and burns staining them. Wolf wore a black leather jacket with dark jeans and work boots, while Panther wore a white dress shirt with black dress pants and gray suede shoes. Leon's outfit matched Panther's, save for a black turtleneck sweater and black leather gloves hiding his upper body.

Bill's smile faded quickly, dropping to a neutral glare as he analyzed each member of Star Wolf. "So," he began, folding his arms with narrowed eyes. "You three ready to turn over a new leaf?"

Wolf scoffed. "That depends. Can you make that happen, soldier boy?"

Bill began to snarl, before taking a deep breath and hiding it behind his glare. "General Pepper's willing to hear you guys out, but I've got my eyes on all of you. If it wasn't for Fox here, I'd already be fitting you three for Meteo Orange, got it?"

"That would be true, Commander Grey," Leon interjected, his icy eyes staring deep into the roaring inferno of Bill's. "But that would depend on you apprehending us. Somehow, I do not think you could… measure up to the task."

Before Bill could retort, verbally or physically, Fox jumped in the middle. "Hey, we're doing you three a favor here. Some gratitude would be nice."

All three members of Star Wolf held their tongues, only causing Bill's temper to flare up further. Before the canine could explode, Fox quickly grabbed his arm and walked him away from the outlaws. The fun had left Bill, his teeth showing in a snarl as he glared at Fox. "Look, I trust you on this. But you better know what you're doing, Fox."

"I do, Bill. Trust me, Wolf can be rehabilitated. He just needs a push and some support. A lot happened to him."

"A lot happened to us. You saw him shoot down my guys during the Lylat Wars." Turning to face Wolf, Bill caught a glance of the Lupine's crooked smile, only causing his scowl to deepen as he turned back to Fox. "Every time I look at him, all I hear are the screams of my men. So please, you gotta be one hundred percent sure you're making the right call here."

"I'm one hundred percent sure."

There was a tense silence before Bill sighed, turning around to face the trio. "Alright, get in the back of my car. Fox and I will drive you to General Pepper's. CDF knows you'll be inbound, so there'll be no problems there." Each member of Star Wolf traded glances before Wolf shrugged, walking towards Bill's car and opening the back door. Panther and Leon followed suit, climbing in after their leader. Once all three were in, Bill walked up to the rear of the car and shut the door, climbing into the driver's seat without saying a word.

As soon as Bill shut the door, Fox turned towards TJ. "Stick close behind us. We have a tight schedule to keep, and Corneria City is a big place. We can't waste time looking for you if you get lost, so no crazy driving, okay?"

TJ nodded. "Got it, I'll be right behind you."

With a return nod, Fox walked towards Bill's SUV before he opened the passenger door, leaving TJ to jog to the Viper. It had been one week too long before he was able to drive it, the joy quickly seeping onto his face as he opened the driver's door and fell into the seat. Slamming the door shut, TJ turned the key, a wry grin crossing his lips as he gave the engine a few solid revs. The sound of a rebuilt and heavily modified Viper V10 was music to TJ's ears, the low rumble bouncing off the walls of the hanger before it gently faded to a soft grumble.

After a few seconds, Bill's SUV began slowly backing out of the hanger, leaving TJ to follow it like a lion stalking injured prey. Bill's rear tires made contact with the pavement of the base, with Bill making a quick three-point turn to get himself turned around. Every base instinct in TJ's body told him to floor it as he followed Bill out of the hangar, and that's what he did. As soon as all four of TJ's tires hit the pavement, TJ slammed his foot on the gas, causing the wheels to spin and screech on the ground below him. Like a junkie getting his fix, TJ whooped and hollered before straightening the car out, practically gluing the rear bumper to Bill's SUV as he followed it out of the base and onto the highway.